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The Evolution of the Studio SystemOn April 22, 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to sell the company to David Ellison's Paramount Skydance — $31 a share, cash, in a vote Deadline called "overwhelming." Fortune puts the total value, once you factor in debt, at close to $111 billion. Netflix, which had $82.7 billion on the table back in December, walked away. So now two of the historic majors sit under one roof. That's one fewer door to knock on. Here's what we think you should actually do about it. A little history, because it explains a lot The old studio system used to own everything — production, distribution, and the theaters themselves — until the Supreme Court broke that up in 1948, forcing studios to sell off their theater chains. That breakup is a big part of why independent film became a real career path in the first place. Then, quietly, in August 2020, a federal court terminated those decrees, clearing the way for studios to own theaters again. The point: this kind of consolidation isn't some strange one-off. It's the industry drifting back toward a shape it held 80 years ago. "Synergies" is a nice word for layoffs We've already watched this play out once. When the Skydance-Paramount merger closed in August 2025, leadership flagged more than $2 billion in cost synergies. About 1,000 layoffs followed that October, with roughly 2,000 total — around 10% of the workforce. On the WBD deal, Paramount is projecting up to $6 billion in synergies. Do that math yourself. Duplicated corporate, marketing, and network roles are usually first to go, and that's exactly where a lot of assistant and coordinator jobs live. It also means people with more experience than you will be job hunting too, which makes the ladder more crowded than usual. That's our read on where this heads, not a headline anyone's actually written yet — but it's the obvious one. What to actually do about it Learn the corporate map. Know which label sits under which parent, and what's already being spun off — WBD had planned to split its cable networks into a separate company by Q3 2026 well before any of this news broke. Don't waste a cover letter on a division that might not exist in its current form much longer. Follow the volume, not the logo. Chase whoever's actually greenlighting work right now: independents, non-fiction, branded content, regional production hubs. A Warner Bros. credit looks great on a resume. A job is better. Don't write off the majors — just verify first. A shareholder vote isn't a done deal. Regulatory clearance and a closing date are still up in the air, and internship or trainee programs may pause or merge in the meantime. Check before you build a plan around one. Widen your list this week. Add ten companies you've never heard of to it. Odds are that's where your first job actually is. Questions, or just want to talk through your next steps? We're always just an email away. All the best, Liv Today's New Jobs173 roles are live this morning and 69 of them are brand new since yesterday, so there's a big fresh pile with hardly anyone in the queue yet. Recommended Job of the DayAssistant: Film Production is our pick. It's with a leading media company spanning film, television and comics, supporting a senior physical production executive in Burbank: rolling calls, a heavy diary, travel, expenses, scripts and production paperwork, plus onboarding productions and dealing with talent, agents and executives. You'd touch finance, VFX, safety, post and creative, which is about as complete a view of how a film gets made as an entry-level desk gets. Make your cover letter prove you can hold confidential information and stay calm on a loud phone. Send it today, because desks like this get shortlisted as the applications land.
Creative Assistant sits with one of the world's biggest streaming studios, supporting the Head of Animation. Permanent, and properly busy: high-volume calls, diary juggling, travel, external meetings, and keeping scripts, schedules and master lists straight across a whole slate. If animation is where you want to end up, this is the desk to be sat at. Theatrical Distribution Internship is paid work with a well-regarded independent studio in LA, on the side of the business most people never see. Print tracking, box office numbers, release calendars, case study decks, theatre checks, plus Q&As and events. Distribution experience is rare and it travels — the team will start reading as applications come in, so don't sit on it. Internship Program comes from an organisation that places interns with partner production companies and pays a living stipend while you're there. They assess on a rolling basis, which means every day you wait is a day someone else gets looked at first. Good route in if you've got the talent but no contacts. Also on the board — 173 live roles, 69 new today
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Upcoming Virtual Workshops Thu 8 Oct, 7:00pm EDTMFJF Monthly Career Clinic Free for members
Starting a career in the film industry is a lonely business, but just imagine each month if you could speak with an experienced filmmaker and get answers to all your questions and concerns. Better still you can share your worries and listen to others, compare notes and learn all the tricks and tips to getting ahead in the Film Industry. Well, now you can via the MFJF Monthly Career Advice Clinic! Come along each month to get your questions answered and learn from our amazing community. The clinic takes the form of a virtual 60-minute workshop hosted by experienced filmmaker Christina Northrup. Christina will present each month and take live Q&A from anyone who wants to talk, if you want to just listen that is absolutely fine. The overall aim of these monthly workshops is to help you establish your film career! Starting a film career can be very lonely, constantly thinking you are on the outside looking in, desperate for somebody to recognise you have what it takes. And the truth is you are not alone, everyone feels the same. Sharing our concerns, listening to others and having an experienced filmmaker pass on her guidance is one very large step in the right… Book your place |
Today's Daily Job ListPM Equipment Studio Assistant Permanent Job · Permanent · Closes 1st December The largest photography and motion studio in New York City is looking for driven, focused people with the endurance necessary to claim a position on our PM Equipment team. PAs - Talent Pool (NY) Production Crew · TBA · Closes 1st January A busy Production Company is looking for PAs for its upcoming slate. Script Readers Internship · TBA · Closes 1st November Virtual Script Reading and Development Internship Internship · 2 Months · Closes 1st November Creative Assistant Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October One of the world's biggest streaming studios is looking for a Creative Assistant to support the Head of Animation. In this job, you'll be the person keeping a very busy desk moving: answering a high volume… Administrative Assistant Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October One of the world's biggest Entertainment and Media Companies is looking for an Administrative Assistant to support three SVPs and a VP in their Brand and Franchise Marketing team. In this job, you'll… Script Readers Internship · TBA · Closes 1st January We are a script competition looking for remote-based volunteer script readers. Programming Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October One of the biggest television stations in the US, owned by a major entertainment network, is looking for a Programming Intern in New York. You'd work directly with the Executive Producers and Senior… Assistant: Film Production Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October A leading media company with film, television and comics divisions is looking for an Assistant: Film Production to support the EVP, Physical Production in Burbank, California. This is a busy, high-profile… FX Advertising & Media Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October A world-leading television and entertainment company is looking for an Advertising & Media Intern to join one of its award-winning network marketing teams in Burbank, California. You'll work on paid… Internship Program Internship · TBA · Closes 1st January We place interns with partner production companies and provide living stipends for the duration of their internship. PAs - Talent Pool (LA) Production Crew · TBA · Closes 1st January A busy Production Company is looking for PAs for its upcoming slate. Talent Agency Internships Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 15th October A leading global Talent Agency is offering Talent Agency Internships in Los Angeles and New York. You'll work across departments on real assignments, from research that feeds into decisions to day-to-day… Post Production Intern Internship · TBA · Closes 1st January We are a boutique post-production house located in Silverlake, Los Angeles. We offer high end finishing, color, conform and deliverables on our video side along with editing, mixing, atmos, and VO/ADR… PM Equipment Studio Assistant Permanent Job · Permanent · Closes 1st December The largest photography and motion studio in New York City is looking for driven, focused people with the endurance necessary to claim a position on our PM Equipment team. Industry news
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